4 minute read
Ethernet-APL standard is complete products are on the way: Two-wire, 10Mbit/s Ethernet for process industries
Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering
Ethernet-APL products are on the way: Two-wire, 10Mbit/s Ethernet
Advertisement
See 10 Ethernet-APL benefits, including technical specifications, test standards, and two-wire Ethernet physical layer components enabling deployment of high-speed communication field instruments in hazardous process automation environments, available after 3 years of work.
The 10Mbit/s Ethernet-APL standard, a two-wire, intrinsically safe, physical layer for process manufacturing industries, is complete after 3 years of cooperative development among leading standards development organizations and major process suppliers. Now available are Ethernet-APL standard technical specifications, test standards and two-wire Ethernet physical layer components enabling deployment of high-speed communication field instruments in hazardous process automation environments.
M
More
Standards development organizations FieldComm Group, ODVA, OPC Foundation, and Profibus and Profinet International (PI) and 12 major industrial project partners, worked for 3 years on “The APL Project” to create a
INSIGHTS new physical layer solution for field KEYWORDS: Ethernet-APL, process industries, process manufacturing instrumentation. With the release of the specifications, engineering guideEthernet-APL standard is two- lines, and conformance test plans wire, 10Mbit/s Ethernet for process by The APL Project, end users can industries. expect components from leading See 10 benefits of Ethernet-APL. suppliers, with first products now Ethernet-APL resulted from 3 years available from select vendors. A June of cooperation from four standards development organizations and 12 process industry suppliers. 15, press event at Achema, Frankfurt, Germany, provided EthernetAPL details. Participants were Joerg CONSIDER THIS Haehniche, Endress+Hauser innoWhat Ethernet-APL benefits will your organization see? vation director; Adrienne Meyer, ODVA Inc. VP operations and memONLINE bership; Dr. Al Beydoun, ODVA Ethernet-APL provides more president and executive director; Steinformation in a “Ethernet to the Field” white paper. https://ethernet-apl.org/ www.controleng.com/ networking-and-security/ethernet/ More information about organizations involved follows online and links to fan Hoppe, OPC Foundation president and executive director; Ted Masters, FieldComm Group president and CEO; Karsten Schneider, Profibus and Profinet International chairman. The Ethernet-APL organiprior articles. zation is based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
10 Ethernet-APL benefits for process industries
Ethernet-APLtechnologyresolvesnumerous barriers to deploying high-speed Ethernet enabled instrumentation in hazardous process automation facilities. Ethernet-APL improves communication speed, hazardous area reach, power to field instrumentation and long cable runs.
Ethernet-APL is an extension of the specification for single-pair Ethernet (SPE) based on 10BASET1L, which can support every higher-order Ethernet communication protocol. Requirements necessary for reliable operation in process-related plants were satisfied by making adjustments to the physical layer, the. Reliable process plant industrial networks requirements and benefits include design advantages for process industries:
1. High-speed Ethernet based communications. As a single physical layer, Ethernet-APL will be able to support EtherNet/IP, HART-IP, OPC UA, Profinet, or any other higher-level network protocol.
2. Operation in potentially explosive areas. Electrical parameters that an Ethernet-APL device must meet to ensure “intrinsically safe” ignition protection are defined in the technical specification of the IEC TS 60079-47 (2-WISE or 2-Wire Intrinsically Safe Ethernet). The APL Project has defined port profiles to create the Ethernet-APL concept for multiple power levels with and without explosion hazardous area protection.
3. The ability to install long cable lengths of up to 1,000 meters.
4. Ethernet-APL port profiles. These include electrical power classes, shield connection options, and segment lengths, have been finalized.
5. Framework for interoperability. Markings on devices and instrumentation will indicate power level and function as sourcing or sinking. This provides
Standards organizations involved in Ethernet-APL are FieldComm Group, ODVA Inc., OPC Foundation, and Profibus and Profinet International. Industry partners (automation vendors) are ABB, Emerson, Endress+Hauser, Krohne, Pepperl+Fuchs, Phoenix Contact, Rockwell Automation, Samson, Siemens, Stahl, Vega and Yokogawa. Courtesy: Ethernet-APL
a simple framework for interoperability from engineering to operation and maintenance.
6. Engineering guidelines and best practices for planning and installation are available in an engineering directive document that will support users when designing and commissioning networks using Ethernet-APL. This facilitates an easy transfer of knowledge for smooth Ethernet-APL adoption.
7. Standard Ethernet diagnostic tools will assist new or seasoned instrument techs and engineers in their daily work, providing for a shallow learning curve.
8. Activities are underway to finalize conformance testing at the leading standards development organizations that are a part of the APL Project. The test specifications now published will assure the quality of products and verify that a product complies with the parameters defined in the APL port profiles specification.
9. The APL Project team has also cooperated with semiconductor manufacturers who will offer 10BASE-T1L Phys for Ethernet-APL on the market.
10. Products: The 12 APL Project industry partners are finalizing development of products that will be available in the marketplace soon. The multivendor demonstration in Karlsruhe, Germany (displayed digitally during Achema Pulse showing participation across different product vendors and networks) highlights the multiple options and interoperability that Ethernet-APL will offer end users.
Cooperative statement from APL Steering Committee
“We are very pleased to release the carefully crafted technology specifications and engineering guidelines to enable Ethernet-APL technology to start to transform the field of process plants,” commented Dr. Jörg Hähniche, chair of the APL Steering Committee. “The high level of cooperation across multiple standards development and vendor organizations within the APL Project has resulted in one future oriented Ethernet physical layer for process automation. This technology launch is a key progress marker, and the development journey will continue now with products in the pipeline from significant industry partners.”
With the launch of Ethernet-APL, users can now anticipate one Ethernet physical layer that can enable long cable reach, intrinsic safety and application-level protocol support for maximum productivity and output, said those involved with Ethernet-APL. Products are promised soon with conformance testing certification, they said. ce
Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, Control Engineering, CFE Media, mhoske@cfemedia.com.
